PTI polls: Unity, ideology or change?
Tehreek-i-Insaf splits in three for internal elections.
Internal elections for the posts of city and provincial president and general secretary are due this month. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Will it be unity, ideology or change? Three distinct groups have emerged within the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf ahead of internal party elections, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The ‘Unity Group’ is headed by Ahsan Rasheed, an old friend of party chief Imran Khan; the ‘Ideological Group’ is led by Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, former president of the PTI Lahore chapter; and the ‘Tsunami Change Group’ is led by Saloni Bukhari, a veteran party member.
Each group has established a separate campaign office and is holding meetings to attract support from party workers. Internal elections for the posts of city and provincial president and general secretary are due this month.
The Unity Group’s campaign is being organised by real estate tycoon and former provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan, who joined the PTI after Imran Khan’s mammoth rally in Lahore in October 2011.
The group has the support of several party heavyweights including PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Quershi, Air Marshal (retired) Shahid Zulifqar, Umer Cheema, Hamaad Azhar, Mian Hamid Meraj, Jamshaid Cheema, Mansha Sindhu, Dr Zarqa, Sardar Arif Rasheed and Abdul Rasheed Bhatti. Many of them have common business interests with Aleem Khan, who will be the group’s candidate for president of the PTI Lahore chapter. This group is thought to have the most money to spend on the elections and the support of many of the newer entrants.
The Ideological Group led by Mehmoodur Rashid has the support of PTI President Javed Hashmi, Zahir Abbas Khokhar, Asghar Gujjar and Dr Atifuddin. It is also believed to be backed by party veterans like Shabbir Sial, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry. The latter joined the PTI in 2007 and played a pivotal role in the party’s establishment in southern Punjab.
The Tsunami Change Group led by Saloni Bukhari has the backing of pop star Ibrarul Haq, Waleed Iqbal, Umer Zaheer Mir, Sardar Arif Rasheed and Ali Abbas Awan. They are believed to be popular among youth and female supporters of the PTI. Bukhari was earlier a part of the Unity Group.
At a press conference a week ago, Change Group members alleged that some party members were trying to “hijack” the polls using their wealth. Group leaders also claimed to have been approached by both the Unity and Ideological Groups for support in the internal polls, but insisted that they would field their own candidates for each slot.
PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood said it was natural for groupings to form ahead of internal elections as the party workers had attachments with various leaders. “After intraparty elections, the groupings will dissolve and everyone will get behind Imran Khan for the upcoming general elections,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2013.
Will it be unity, ideology or change? Three distinct groups have emerged within the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf ahead of internal party elections, The Express Tribune has learnt.
The ‘Unity Group’ is headed by Ahsan Rasheed, an old friend of party chief Imran Khan; the ‘Ideological Group’ is led by Mian Mehmoodur Rashid, former president of the PTI Lahore chapter; and the ‘Tsunami Change Group’ is led by Saloni Bukhari, a veteran party member.
Each group has established a separate campaign office and is holding meetings to attract support from party workers. Internal elections for the posts of city and provincial president and general secretary are due this month.
The Unity Group’s campaign is being organised by real estate tycoon and former provincial minister Abdul Aleem Khan, who joined the PTI after Imran Khan’s mammoth rally in Lahore in October 2011.
The group has the support of several party heavyweights including PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Quershi, Air Marshal (retired) Shahid Zulifqar, Umer Cheema, Hamaad Azhar, Mian Hamid Meraj, Jamshaid Cheema, Mansha Sindhu, Dr Zarqa, Sardar Arif Rasheed and Abdul Rasheed Bhatti. Many of them have common business interests with Aleem Khan, who will be the group’s candidate for president of the PTI Lahore chapter. This group is thought to have the most money to spend on the elections and the support of many of the newer entrants.
The Ideological Group led by Mehmoodur Rashid has the support of PTI President Javed Hashmi, Zahir Abbas Khokhar, Asghar Gujjar and Dr Atifuddin. It is also believed to be backed by party veterans like Shabbir Sial, Dr Yasmin Rashid and Ejaz Chaudhry. The latter joined the PTI in 2007 and played a pivotal role in the party’s establishment in southern Punjab.
The Tsunami Change Group led by Saloni Bukhari has the backing of pop star Ibrarul Haq, Waleed Iqbal, Umer Zaheer Mir, Sardar Arif Rasheed and Ali Abbas Awan. They are believed to be popular among youth and female supporters of the PTI. Bukhari was earlier a part of the Unity Group.
At a press conference a week ago, Change Group members alleged that some party members were trying to “hijack” the polls using their wealth. Group leaders also claimed to have been approached by both the Unity and Ideological Groups for support in the internal polls, but insisted that they would field their own candidates for each slot.
PTI Information Secretary Shafqat Mehmood said it was natural for groupings to form ahead of internal elections as the party workers had attachments with various leaders. “After intraparty elections, the groupings will dissolve and everyone will get behind Imran Khan for the upcoming general elections,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2013.